March 26, 2025
字圆其说 x 上海工程技术大学
Workshop
A group of 30 students from Shanghai University of Engineering Science representing countries across both Asia and Europe visited the exhibition A Cosmos Within Chinese Characters for an afternoon of discovery, dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange.
Inspired by the imaginative works on display, the students launched into a lively debate on the best ways to learn Chinese characters. The discussion naturally split along familiar lines: students from the 汉字圈 (Chinese-character-using regions like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam) leaned toward recognition-based and structural approaches, while students from alphabet-based language backgrounds favored more visual, associative, and story-driven methods.
Despite their differing perspectives, the group reached a joyful and thoughtful consensus by the end: there is no single best method for learning Chinese characters—only the best method that works for each individual. This moment of mutual understanding perfectly echoed the spirit of the I Got One project, where personal interpretations, diverse experiences, and cultural perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated.
The visit became more than just an exhibition tour. It was a microcosm of the project’s mission: to build bridges between learners and languages, through curiosity, empathy, and the shared pursuit of meaning.
